Downlink Control Information Scheduling Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downlink control information (DCI) scheduling in communication systems lacks flexibility, particularly when scheduling multiple transport blocks, as it requires consecutive HARQ process numbers and fixed indicators, leading to increased overhead and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an information processing method that enhances the flexibility of DCI scheduling by using a first bit to determine the quantity and scheduling of transport blocks, HARQ process numbers, and new data indicator information, allowing for any quantity of transport blocks to be scheduled and any HARQ process number to be indicated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If one piece of DCI schedules multiple transport blocks with consecutive HARQ process numbers and fixed first HARQ process number, then DCI overhead is reduced, but scheduling flexibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic field configuration where the presence and length of HARQ process number indication fields adapt based on the scheduled transport block configuration. When TBs are scheduled, the DCI dynamically includes appropriate HARQ process number fields; when TBs are not scheduled, these fields are omitted or set to default values, making the DCI structure flexible rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the HARQ process number indication into multiple separate fields (e.g., first HARQ process number field, second HARQ process number field) rather than using a single continuous indication. This segmentation allows independent control and indication of different HARQ process numbers for different transport blocks, enabling non-consecutive HARQ process number allocation while maintaining manageable DCI structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If N bits are used to indicate NDI information and N bits to indicate HARQ process numbers in bitmap manner, then all transport blocks can be scheduled, but DCI bit overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of HARQ process number indication for different transport blocks based on their specific needs. Not all transport blocks require full HARQ process number indication - the DCI structure allows selective indication where only necessary fields are populated with specific values, while others use defaults or are omitted, optimizing the balance between scheduling capability and bit overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal DCI structure that can handle both single-TB and multi-TB scheduling scenarios, as well as both consecutive and non-consecutive HARQ process number allocations, using the same field definitions. The fields serve multiple functions: they can indicate HARQ process numbers when needed, or be set to default values when not needed, eliminating the need for separate DCI formats for different scheduling scenarios.
3Ease of operation
If one bit is added to distinguish between multi-TB scheduling and single-TB scheduling, then scheduling type can be identified, but DCI overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by not adding an explicit indicator bit for scheduling type. Instead, the scheduling type is inferred from the presence and values of other fields in the DCI. When TBs are scheduled, specific field patterns indicate multi-TB scheduling; when TBs are not scheduled, the same fields take different values or are omitted, allowing the terminal to determine scheduling type without dedicated indicator bits.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing method, a terminal device, and a network device are provided. In one method, a first bit in downlink control information includes two bits, a bit status of the first bit may belong to a first state set or may be a second state, and a terminal device may perform multi-TB scheduling or single-TB scheduling based on the first bit. When the bit status of the first bit belongs to the first state set, the first state set is {01, 10, 11}, N=4, and the downlink control information includes a first field, the bit status of the first bit can be used to determine a quantity L of TBs scheduled by the downlink control information, and a bit status of five bits of the first field can be used to determine HARQ process numbers of the L TBs and NDI information of the L TBs.